This time of year, Santa's workshop is so full of toys the big guy and his big belly have a hard time moving around.

That's the news from Orion Senior Center volunteer and Santa's helper Elaine Schefke, who's been keeping Lake Orion kids up-to-date on North Pole information for years if they write a letter to Santa. A special mailbox is outside the village offices on Flint Street right now for little Orionites to send their letters off to the North Pole.

On behalf of the jolly one, Schefke personally responds to each letter mailed.

"It's fun for me. I'm a grandma and I like doing it," said the Oxford resident, mother of ten and grandmother of 26. "One boy says to tell Rudolph hello, so I told him, (Rudolph) says hello, too. Another said he hasn't been very good, so I told him I'm glad to hear he's going to be good for the rest of the year."

Want to send your own letter to Santa? Pen a merry note and drop it off outside 37 E. Flint Street, no postage required. A special response will be sent to your address. Postage and other costs are provided for by the Lake Orion Downtown Development Authority.

"It's a neat experience," said DDA Executive Director Suzanne Perreault, urging more kids to get their pencils or crayons out and drop a letter off for Santa.